What Type of Flooring is Best For Garages?

When choosing a new floor for your home, the first room that would come to mind is the living room, foyer, or kitchen. However, selecting flooring for your garage is just as important. You’re probably thinking, “Where do I start?” If so, you’ve come to the right place! Below, we’ll lay the land of the best flooring options based on the use, traffic frequency, and material, so you feel confident in your decision. Whether you are looking for either a residential, commercial, or Aircraft Hanger garage, there are options to choose from.

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Garage Floor Types

Below we will cover the best flooring for garages and their advantages and disadvantages so you can weigh the differences. Then, the decision is up to you.

Epoxy Coating

Epoxy coating is one of the most popular options for best-in-class garage floor finishes. It is recognized for being highly durable, resistant to various chemicals, and retains a glossy finish once installed. Best of all, epoxy coating is known to last up to 3 years in heavy commercial traffic, and much longer for a residential garage floor.

On the other hand, if you are someone who loves a good do-it-yourself project, installing epoxy is not one that’s recommended. If not installed properly, epoxy flooring can collect moisture underneath and not bind properly to the concrete floor (See our previous blog to learn more).

Polyaspartic Coating

Polyaspartic coating consists of a mixture of Polyaspartic Ester and other materials, which creates a strong, flexible, and stain-resistant finish to oil, gas, rain, dirt, and more. Due to this, it has been a popular option for residential and commercial garage flooring.

However, if you’re looking for a quick and cost-efficient project, Polyaspartic may not be the option for you since it takes much longer than epoxy coating and is more costly.

Painted Concrete

Painted concrete is a double-duty garage flooring as it adds a second layer of concrete on top of the already existing layer, which aids against spills, scratches, and damage from oils. If you are someone that likes to have a workshop in the garage, painted concrete would be a viable option as a garage floor finish.

However, if you prefer to have a clean look, painted concrete doesn’t penetrate the concrete like a stain would, so there will be chipping and peeling much more frequently than the aforementioned options. So if you’re someone that deals with a lot of foot traffic (especially for busy commercial locations), painted concrete wouldn’t be the best option without making costly touch-ups after short periods of time.

Interlocking Floor Tiles / Mats

If you have a commercial gym or workout station in your garage, interlocking floor tiles and mats are a perfect solution for garage flooring, as they are water-resistant and extremely durable with heavier objects. An added bonus: they are pretty comfortable on the feet!

On the other hand, they are not recommended for vehicles and are likely to retain moisture if they’re not vulcanized rubber flooring.

Rubber Flooring

Who doesn’t love garage flooring that’s easy to install, move around, and swap out? Rubber flooring is a cool solution if you want effective garage floor protection that is comfortable.

However, rubber garage flooring is only temporary, as it doesn’t resolve any structural issues you may be dealing with. Definitely don’t drive a vehicle on it, as it will bunch up and be practically useless afterward.

Remember that there are additional options to consider for garage flooring, including different patterns/covers, porcelain, carpet, concrete sealant, and more. However, these options are not as common and come with drawbacks. Researching them and seeing if they fit your needs is always the most recommended plan of action.

Floor Types for Commercial Garage or Aircraft Hangar

While some of the above garage flooring options are efficient, durable, and long-lasting for residential garages, they can provide the same benefits for replacing your commercial garage or aircraft hanger flooring. Here are our suggestions for these niche areas:

Commercial Garages: Durable mats and interlocking tiles (referenced above), epoxy coatings (referenced above), and Penntek Polyurea solutions are recommended due to their easy installation, customizations, and ability to last for longer periods of time.

Aircraft Hanger Garages: Concrete with epoxy, Cementitious Urethane (which is concrete reinforced with Polyurethane), and Elastomeric floor coatings (a more flexible option, yet strong and very resilient) are go-to options to choose from.

Why You Should Consider Multiple Flooring Options for Your Garage

The best flooring for certain types of garages can be determined by referring back to the previous sections. However, there are many different reasons why you should consider a range of flooring options for your garage. Garage floors are highly durable, especially due to the daily usage it tackles, such as weather, dirt, grime, vehicle malfunctions, chemicals, heavy-duty objects being moved, and spills. But that’s just the beginning of many things that could happen to your garage floor. While there are some options out there that may provide a “quick and easy” solution, it doesn’t guarantee that it will last for the long haul.

Aside from the expected usage of the garage floor, you also have to be budget conscious. Once you decide on the various types of floors that match what you want to use your garage for, then let your budget decide which one is best to install. Rather than trying to create a shortcut or focusing too much on the budget and looking for the cheapest option, such as a rug or painting the garage floor, consider installing a new garage floor that will provide the support it desperately needs.

Free Onsite Consultation for Your Flooring Needs

Showroom Garage Flooring understands that choosing your next garage flooring is a major decision. Thankfully, we have the tools you need to make a wise selection. Our team ensures fast, transparent, and professional service that exceeds your expectations, every time. While residential garages are our specialty, we developed a strong portfolio showcasing work with commercial garages and airline hangers too. No matter what you need your garage floor for, it comes with a 10-year Manufacturer’s Warranty, full-service installation, and a follow-up within 24 hours after your new flooring was installed. We want you to be happy, and we’ll do everything we can to provide the best garage flooring.

Ready to get started or want to learn more? Schedule your free on-site assessment and consultation today by clicking one of the buttons below.

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